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The After Wife: A Novel [Hardcover]

Gigi Levangie Grazer
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)

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Book Description

July 10, 2012
Gigi Levangie Grazer, the New York Times bestselling author of The Starter Wife, returns with a hilarious and spirited tale of love—both lost and found.
 
L.A. is no place for widows. This is what forty-four-year-old Hannah Bernal quickly discovers after the tragic death of her handsome and loving husband, John. Misery and red-rimmed eyes are little tolerated in the land of the beautiful. But life stumbles on: Hannah’s sweet three-year-old daughter, Ellie, needs to be dropped off at her overpriced preschool, while Hannah herself must get back to work in order to pay the bills on “Casa Sugar,” the charming Spanish-styled bungalow they call home.
 
Fortunately, Hannah has her “Grief Team” for emotional support: earth mother and fanatical animal lover Chloe, who finds a potential blog post in every moment; aspiring actress Aimee, who has her cosmetic surgeon on speed dial; and Jay, Hannah’s TV producing partner, who has a penchant for Mr. Wrong. But after a series of mishaps and bizarre occurrences, one of which finds Hannah in a posh Santa Monica jail cell, her friends start to fear for her sanity. To make matters worse, John left their financial affairs in a disastrous state. And when Hannah is dramatically fired from her latest producing gig, she finds herself in danger of losing her house, her daughter, and her mind.
 
One night, standing in her backyard under a majestic avocado tree, in the throes of grief, Hannah breaks down and asks, “Why?” The answer that comes back—Why not?—begins an astounding journey of discovery and transformation that leads Hannah to her own truly extraordinary life after death.

Praise for The After Wife
 
“Fans of Lolly Winston, Mary Kay Andrews, and Jennifer Weiner will especially enjoy Grazer’s newest.”—Booklist
 
“Hilariously funny and profoundly wise, The After Wife is for anyone who’s ever been married or widowed, in debt or in love. I could not put it down: a fabulous read!”—Nancy Thayer, author of Island Girls
 
“A charming tale of a grieving forty-ish widow—and the wacky friends who love her.”—Los Angeles Times
 
“A book that is part Jacqueline Susann, part Real Housewives . . . Gigi Levangie Grazer [is a] Jimmy Choo’ed-out satirist.”—National Post
 
“Fans of The Starter Wife will be equally charmed with The After Wife.”—Library Journal
 
“Grazer’s entertaining satire is sure to spice up any occasion.”—Publishers Weekly

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Fans of Lolly Winston, Mary Kay Andrews, and Jennifer Weiner will especially enjoy Grazer’s newest.”—Booklist
 
“Hilariously funny and profoundly wise, The After Wife is for anyone who’s ever been married or widowed, in debt or in love. I could not put it down: a fabulous read!”—Nancy Thayer, author of Island Girls
 
“A charming tale of a grieving forty-ish widow—and the wacky friends who love her.”—Los Angeles Times
 
“A book that is part Jacqueline Susann, part Real Housewives . . . Gigi Levangie Grazer [is a] Jimmy Choo’ed-out satirist.”—National Post
 
“Fans of The Starter Wife will be equally charmed with The After Wife.”—Library Journal
 
“Grazer’s entertaining satire is sure to spice up any occasion.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Gigi Levangie Grazer is the bestselling author of four previous novels, including The Starter Wife, first a miniseries and then a series on the USA Network, and Maneater, now a Lifetime miniseries. Her most recent book, Queen Takes King, is currently under option at Lifetime. Grazer has also written the screenplay for Stepmom, starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, and articles for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Glamour. She lives in Los Angeles with her two children and one miniature dachshund.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 10, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345523997
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345523990
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #534,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gigi Levangie Grazer is the author of three prior novels: Rescue Me (2000), Maneater (2003), and The Starter Wife (2006). The Starter Wife was adapted for an Emmy Award-winning USA Network miniseries starring Debra Messing, and later for a television series; Maneater was adapted for a Lifetime miniseries starring Sarah Chalke in May 2009. In addition, Gigi wrote the screenplay for Stepmom, starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon. Gigi's articles have appeared in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Glamour. She lives in L.A. with her two children and three miniature dachshunds.

Customer Reviews

I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, lightweight read. Mary L Ray  |  18 reviewers made a similar statement
This book made me giggle, cry, and laugh out loud. Marcella H.  |  13 reviewers made a similar statement
Things felt like they were just trucking along without much of point. Chicago Book Addict  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Frothy June 5, 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I've read Gigi Levangie Granger's other novels and these are definitely not deep character studies. Breezy, beach books about Hollywood are her forte, populated by archetype characters awash in cliches, they're the sort of mind candy that you enjoy while reading, but forget 15 minutes later. And, personally, I think there's a place for that type of story when well-done, which Levangie Granger's are. Light, flirty and fast-paced, the AFTER WIFE is well within Levangie Granger's STARER WIFE wheelhouse, even post-divorce (hers) and with a lot less star power by her side, which is reflected in this much more L.A. than Hollywood tale.

Set in trendy Santa Monica, this story of a reality TV producer that becomes a young widow turns a bit weird midway when it goes all MEDIUM on us. (I thought several times that Levangie Granger must have caught a marathon of that CBS show midway through this manuscript.) A little loopy, the weirdness mostly works, as do Hannah, her daughter Ellie, best-gay-friend and business partner Jay and two best friends Aimee and Chloe ... All classic L.A. stereotypes made just real enough to enjoy.

Nothing mind-blowing or particularly outstanding, I still found myself really enjoying this marshmallow fluff of a tale. Perfect poolside material.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Life after Death July 8, 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
.

Gigi Levangie Grazer presents a pithy and sardonic novel, The After Wife. She uses a wry sense of humor to explore the inner mind of a woman who faces a sad and serious situation.

Hannah Bernal must cope with the early death of her husband and continue to care for her three-year-old daughter, Ellie. She resorts to Post-It-Notes to remind her of everyday living activities, e.g. eating, sleeping, walking the dog, in addition to her work duties and responsibilities to her daughter. Although Hannah's thoughts and emotions often appear real under the circumstances, her perceptions sometimes seem a bit exaggerated.

Whether she actually "opens a portal", or it's a figment of her imagination, Hannah begins to have the ability to see and speak to the dead. This includes her late husband, John. When she meditates outdoors, an avocado tree seems to enhance her ability. Can this newly acquired insight help solve the case of her husband's death by a hit and run driver? What about the immigrant without papers who is accused of hitting him? Can she prevent him from going on trial? How can she deal with the spirits who talk with her when she's in ordinary situations?

Enter her friends, Jay (who's gay), Chole (with her kids and dogs), Aimee (a childless, middle-age "almost" actress), Brandon (an intern at Ellie's nursery school), who provides Hannah with extra help for her daughter as a live-in "manny", and Tom (a widower), who tries to help Hannah save her house. Each character, with their own quirks, offers to assist in their own way. Hannah tries to remain sane in light of her newly found abilities and the parade of characters in her life.

I recommend this book. It makes for an entertaining read.
... Read more ›
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Funny take on widowhood in LA July 10, 2012
Format:Hardcover
This book was surely a surprise. I read her first book, The Starter Wife and loved the story and all of the Hollywood insider tidbits and jokes. The resulting mini-series was disappointing, but I have come to expect that from book adaptations.

In The After Wife, Hannah Marsh, a reality television show producer finds her world altered when her husband dies suddenly. Left to pick up the pieces and raise her daughter, her hilarious friends rally around her for support. While she tries to hold on to her life, her job, and her sanity, she questions (out loud) why this is happening to her. She actually gets an answer and a whole new world and insight into life after death opens up to her.

I didn't know anything about this book when I read it and was truly happy with the outcome. Grazer is still hilarious and manages to fit in so many pop culture references and jokes that you feel as if you are reading about friends. This is the time of year when we hear a lot about "beach reading" and I'm not sure how many people actually take books with them to the beach, but this should be one of them.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Giggles and grief July 22, 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Gigi Levangie Grazer hits a home run with "The After Wife." She tells the story of Hannah Bernal, who tragically loses her husband John in a car-bike accident and is left to raise her daughter alone in Santa Monica.

Because Jay was the primary caregiver for their daughter Ellie, Hannah has to learn to be caregiver and breadwinner.

Luckily for Hannah, she is not alone, she has the quirky support of her friends and some spirits, including her deceased chef husband. But they can't save her from losing her job and putting her beloved home up for sale.

The author infuses "The After Wife" with humor and the reader reaps the benefits. Don't miss this one!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars More than a medium read! July 19, 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
ARC/Chicklit: I liked this book so much that when I finished, I felt like I just said good-bye to some friends.
The beginning of the book is hard to read because it is "gallows humor" and our heroine, Hannah, is very depressing.
Hannah is shocked & awed when her perfect house-husband, John, is killed in a hit & run. Without her other half, Hannah is a mess. A career woman, she now has to be a mother, bring home the bacon, and pay the property tax. After weeks of not combing her hair, the tax note is due and she's kinda lost her job.
No worries; the has the "Grief Team". Her three best friends help her through her journey...there may be a ghost or two.
The missing star: well the book is choppy. We have some thoughts and plot lines that either seem important and then get forgotten for 75 pages or completely forgotten. The last ten pages seemed like a rushed ending. It's like the publishing company said cut out 100 pages and the editor chopped it up. There were some questions not answered and I expected some more finality to Hannah's medium contacts. I wondered if the book was being set up for a sequel.
The supporting cast: The only word is hysterical. Dee Dee, the nymphomaniac realtor, is my favorite. She'll do anything for a commission, or plastic surgery. Did I say anything? I meant anyone; in any position. There's also the manny, the cop, and the man-whore.
Location, location, location: San Monica and all the pretentiousness that goes along with it.
Yes, I recommend the book. There are some LOL moments.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars the after wife
painfully true to life, i laughed while crying. if you've experience a loss in your life, read this and smile again!
Published 2 months ago by txgirl
4.0 out of 5 stars Great follow up of the starter wife
I really enjoyed this book her interesting take on death. Where she asks why and comes up with why not. Tis boom is filled with heart and humor.
Published 2 months ago by Edward Walker
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Supporting Cast
I wouldn't call this a beach read since it took me over the span of 4 months to read it. I'd read a few pages then get distracted and put the book down to come back to later. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Marisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and Funny at the Same Time
Maybe it was the honest portrayal of a wife dealing with grief. Maybe it was the entertainment provided by her quirky friends. Could have been the insight into the spirit world. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. schell
5.0 out of 5 stars A Witty and Wonderful Book
Hannah Bernal is happily married to John. The have a three-year-old daughter, Elli. They have a beautiful home in Los Angeles they call “Casa Sugar. Read more
Published 3 months ago by V. Irene Vega
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Lighter Reading...
And I don't mean that as an insult. This book is a great read for a relaxing weekend at the beach or just curled up on the couch. Read more
Published 3 months ago by girlswithbooks
4.0 out of 5 stars The After Wife: A Novel...
An interesting mix of characters make up Ms. Grazer's novel.

I can't go into a more vivid description without giving away the story. Read more
Published 3 months ago by D. S. HARDEN
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
I was hooked from the very beginning! It's well wrote with entertaining charaters. I laughed and cried it's a very touchy book.
Published 4 months ago by Felicia c
4.0 out of 5 stars A humorous look at widowhood
I laughed and I cried as a read The After Wife. This book was an easy read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Loves those books
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Great book! Beginning was a little slow, but as I got into this book it made me laugh and cry. I will definitely recommend it to others.
Published 4 months ago by propayne
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